features in: Album Chart of 1967 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die  |
After six years recording with Columbia Records, Aretha Franklin made one of the best decisions of her career when she signed with Atlantic Records and set to work with producer Jerry Wexler and the famed musicians at Muscle Shoals studios in Alabama. The chemical reaction was highly potent. In the context of this album, it’s evident from the very start, as the highly charged “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” explodes into action. Goddam! What a funky break, what a strong woman, what a sax from King Curtis. Otis Redding would jokingly lament about “the little girl who stole my song” but you just know that, secretly, he must have been one proud daddy! The key to this album is the constantly gripping passion from Aretha, and the fantastic accompaniment that she receives from the whole team, including her sisters Carolyn and Erma on backing vocals. Album highlight “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)” continues the early perfection. This was the first song that Aretha brought to the table in the Atlantic sessions, written for her by Ronnie Shannon. Aretha’s talents are all to the fore – her piano caress lays the foundation, and her extraordinary ability to impact emotionally all the way from breathy whispers to ecstatic screams seals one of the classiest musical performances in all of recorded history. Aretha has a hand in the writing of four pieces, one of which, “Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business)”, proves to be another major highlight. Once again, it’s a wholly delicious concoction centred ‘round a late-night slow-swing piano, and a sensuous vocal which is part sung – part spoken – part screamed. The band are crack – and subtle, with sensational organ and horns in particular. No matter what you’re into, this album is a stunner from start to finish. I am awestruck every time I hear it…
The Jukebox Rebel
26–Nov–2006
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [02:27]  Aretha Franklin - Respect (Otis Redding) Soul |
| A2 | [04:07]  Aretha Franklin - Drown In My Own Tears (Henry Glover) Soul Ballad |
| A3 | [02:51] Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) (Ronnie Shannon) Soul Ballad |
| A4 | [02:39]  Aretha Franklin - Soul Serenade (Curtis Ousley, Luther Dixon) Soul Ballad |
| A5 | [02:23]  Aretha Franklin - Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream (Aretha Franklin, Ted White) Soul |
| A6 | [02:54]  Aretha Franklin - Baby, Baby, Baby (Aretha Franklin, Carolyn Franklin) Soul Ballad |
| B1 | [03:23]  Aretha Franklin - Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business) (Aretha Franklin, Ted White) Soul Ballad |
| B2 | [02:10]  Aretha Franklin - Good Times (Samuel Cook) Soul |
| B3 | [03:16]  Aretha Franklin - Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (Dan Penn, Chips Moman) Soul Ballad |
| B4 | [02:21]  Aretha Franklin - Save Me (Curtis Ousley, Aretha Franklin, Carolyn Franklin) Soul |
| B5 | [04:20]  Aretha Franklin - A Change Is Gonna Come (Samuel Cook) Soul Ballad |
